Ramp for dispensing apparatus



Sept 23, 1947- H. v. GIBSON ErAL 2,427,958

l RAMP FOB DISPENSING APPARATUS Original FilPd Oct. 1.9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 SePt- 23, 1947 H. v. GIBSON Erm. 2,427,958

vRAMP FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1939 3 Shefat-Sheet 2 Sept 23, 1947; H. v.A GIBSON ETAL RAMP `FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS original Filed oct. '19, 1959 s sheets-sheet 3 Patented Sept. 23, 1947 *U N `ITED STATES NT OFFICE 2,42%958 RAMP Fon DisPENsING APPARATUS nersohel v. Gibson, Bloomington, nl.,andElmer E, Casey, deceased, late of Bloomingtonvlll.,by

Cora May Casey, executrix, Bloomington, Ill. assignors, by mesne as Williams Corporation, a

gan

300,109, now Patent N Divided and this i 3 arguments, to Eureka corporation of Michiber 19,l 1939, Serial No.

2,315,515, dated April application January e, 1943, soria1No. 471,43o

3 claims. (o1. 19a-3s) This invention re-latesgto ya ramp structure for a dispensing apparatusv adapted to containV land dispense packaged liquid goods, such as bottled milk orgthe like, which require a cool temperature to preventspoiling.

This is a division of a-prior application, Serial No.V 300,109, led October A19 1939, and issued ',Apri1 6, 1943, as PatentgNo. 2,315,51-5, in the name oi Herschel V. Gibson-and Elmer E. Casey.` This prior application discloses acooling and dispens- 'ing'apparatus comprising a cabinet having a storage chamber with a discharge opening and a plu- 'rality -of inclinedramps disposed side by side for supporting and advancing-containers by gravity vto the discharge opening. v v v Each of the ramps comprises lateral supports and a'plurality-of longitudinally extending members carried by the supports for directing the containers to theY dispensing means adjacent the discharge opening. It will be understood that the `ramps of the present-invention are adapted for fuse in connection vwith any suitable dispensing means; however, the dispensing means of the *above identied prior application comprises a '.rot'ary member having at least one longitudinally extending pocket for each ramp to receive conv4tainers therefrom. The pockets are staggered in -a lateral direction'ingthe pathof the containers for dispensing the containers one `at atime out fof the `dischargeV opening. AA gravityeweighted member is 4normally supported in one position by :the lcontainers for controlling the normal operafjtion of-"a coin-controlledmeans for -operating the :dispenser to deliver oneof thecontainers at. `a `time.

I The Ipresent invention is directed to the in- :clined ramps for supportingv and advancing the l.containers' by gravity to the ldischarge opening. These ramps comprise laterally and substantially horizontally extending `supports'and a plurality of longitudinally extending members carriedby Itlie'-supporting'"means 'and 'in laterally spacedV re- "l'aticnship l Y 'The' longitudinal vmembers are non-uniform in 'Height randare-'adapted to engage a main body "irtion'of substantially uniform cross vsectionof the containrsfor support thereof in a tilted lebanon.

mp' of thefcharacter described, *which ramp y particularlyadapted toprevent Aaccidental 'end- "wise or other abnormal ldisplacement of'a container during its movement overithe ramp.

"`It'is`al'so`an"object toprovide a ramp wherein l'Y-It an objectfof'this"invention to provide 'a- 2 the containers are advanced to the discharge opening by gravity and in a tilted position. A further object is to provide a dispensing ramp which is comparatively inexpensive in construction, simple and eilicient in operation and which will no1; easily get out oforder.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out, and for a morecomplete understanding of the characteristics of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: y l

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectional View through a dispensing apparatus, one embodiment ofthe ramp being shown in side elevation.

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary top view of the end of one of the ramps illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig.l 3 is an elevational view of the embodiment shown inFig.` 2, and illustrates a container in position-thereon. y

Fig. 4 -is Va view similar to Fig. 3 of a fragmentary portion of amodied form of ramp construction for vuse in the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and discloses a portion of a similar ramp, but formed of a different type of material.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational View of the ramp shown in Fig. 5 and illustrates a container supported thereon.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6,- the ramp being formed of a different material.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises a cabinet 29 in the form of a substantially rectangular box enclosing a storage chamber for containers. The cabinet is preferably provided with a removable top and the walls and top may be suitably insulated, as shown.

Since the dispensing apparatus is designed primarily for storing and dispensing such liquids as milk, soft drinksl and the like, which are contained in generally cylindrical containers, 'and since it is desirable to keep these containers-at a low temperature, suitable refrigerating apparatus (not shown) may be housed in the cabinet for cooling the storing chamber.

A plurality of inclined ramps 2| are disposed side by side in the cabinet and preferably vin superposed relation, so that containers may progress by gravity over the inclined surfaces of the ramps from one ramp to the ramp below, the

' last ramp communicating with a discharge open- A ing' 22.

One end Yof eachv ramp rests on pins'2'3 or" other suitable supportsA extending from the inner walls of the cabinet, the other end of the ramp being detachably supported in cradles or arms 24 secured on the next adjacent ramp with the exception of the lower ramp, which latter is supported on a cross bar 25 secured to angle iron members 25. The angle irons are fastened to the opposed side Walls of the cabinet. The cross bar 25 may form a part of a housing 2l having a dispensing means 28, the housing communicating with a discharge opening 22.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, each of the ramps 2l comprises a plurality of spaced laterally and substantially horizontally extending supporting means in the form of strips of wire or rod 29 for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending members disposed thereon in laterally spaced relation. The intermediate longitudinally extending members 39 and 3| are of nonuniform height or diameter and the other intermediate longitudinally extendingmember 32 is of small diameter; however, the member 32 is raised above the height of the members 39 and 3l by reason :ofthe support thereof on loop portions 33 of the laterally extending members 29. The side members 34 and 35 are raised a substantial distance above the plane of the intermediate members for guiding the container and preventing endwise displacement thereof from the rack, the member 34 being engaged by the bottom of the container as the container is tilted in position thereagainst.

The container 3B has a cylindrical main body portion of substantially uniform cross section and an extending reduced neck having a head with a removable closure cap 3l thereon. The lateral members 29 support the intermediate longitudinally extending members or tracks 39 and 3l and since the latter members are of different diameters and engage the main body portion of -the container 36, the container is tilted from a horizontal position in the direction of the side member or rail 34. The tilting of the container 35 to rest against the side member 34 of the ramp prevents contacting engagement of the removable closure cap against the side rail 35 and since it is desired that the removable closure cap should not strike against any fixed object, the intermediate longitudinally extending member 32 is positioned to resist any tendency for the container to tilt in a direction opposite to its normal tilted position.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the side rail 35a corresponding to the side rail member 35 of the previously described embodiment is not normally contacted by the closure cap end of the container 35a and when desired, the loop 33a may support the intermediate longitudinally extending wire 32a in a position adjacent the closure cap 31a rather than adjacent the reduced neck of the container, as shown in Fig. 3. member 32a prevents the accidental tilting of the container from its normally tilted position.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the

embodiment shown therein comprises laterally and substantially horizontally extending supporting means 38 preferably formed of square wire or rod for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending members in laterally spaced relation. The intermediate members 39 and 49 are preferably formed of strips of sheet metal bent into L-shape, the base of the strips being soldered, welded or otherwise secured to the laterally extending supporting rods 38. The upwardly extending flanges are of nonuniform The longitudinally extending height, that is, the upwardly extending portion of the strip 39 is of less height than the corresponding flange of the strip 49. The other intermediate strip 4I is similarly formed of a strip of sheet metal bent into L-shape with the base portion thereof soldered, welded or otherwise secured to the laterally extending supporting means 38 and the upwardly extending ange is of a substantially greater height than the corresponding anges of the strips 39 and 49.

The container 42 is of the type having a body portion of a substantially uniform cross section and an extending reduced neck 43 with a removable closure cap 44 on the head thereof. Such a container is ordinarily employed for holding kmilk, and the closure cap may be formed of cardboard or heavy paper. The intermediate strips 39 and 49 are so disposed as to engage the main body portion of a container for support thereof, and since the upwardly extending flanges of the intermediate members 39 and 4D are of nonuniform height, the container is tilted from the plane of the horizontal. The intermediate member 4I is disposed adjacent the neck portion 43 of the container although preferably not in contact therewith during the normal travel of the container along the intermediate strips 39 and 40. However, the member 4l is so positioned that it prevents the accidental tilting of the container in the direction opposite to its normal tilted position.

Longitudinally extending side strips or rails 45 and 46 are also supported by the laterally extending supporting means 38. The strips 45 and 46 each comprising a strip of sheet metal are bent into inverted substantially U-shaped cross section having laterally extending feet, which latter are welded, soldered or otherwise secured to the supporting means. The bottom of the container 42 engages an arcuate portion of the strip 45 in line contact therewith to prevent endwise displacement of the container 42 from the strips 39 and 49. The strip 45 does not normally contact the closure cap 44, there being clearance therebetween, but acts to prevent accidental endwise displacement of the container from the strips 39 and 4D in the other direction.

The embodiment of. the invention shown in Fig. '7 is similar in all respects to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 with the exception that the strip 41a of L-shaped cross section is disposed adjacent the rail 43a and under the closure cap 44a instead of adjacent the reduced neck portion as in the previously described embodiment. The strip 41a has the same function as the strip 4l in the previously described embodiment in preventing the tilting of the container in the opposite direction from its normally tilted position, except that any accidental engagement is directed against the closure cap instead of against the reduced neck of the container.

In the operation of the dispensing mechanism,

the containers are fed by gravity along the incontainer entering the pocket of the dispensing means be so great as to tend to stack the containers on top of each other, it is desirable to provide a substantially rigid means l above the adjacent container and extending over the end of the ramp in spaced relation therewith to permit passage of the containers therebetween and to prevent stacking of the containers. One container is delivered from one oi the ramps while a container from an adjacent ramp is in position to be delivered upon the next operation, the pockets of the dispensing mechanism being staggered in a lateral direction.

It is intended, of course, that the invention should not be limited to the specic embodiment or embodiments disclosed or to the exact details of construction shown, as obvious modications will occur to persons skilled inthe art.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A ramp for bottles or the like containers having reduced neck portions, comprising an elongated base having side rails, a pair of spaced longitudinal track members between said side rails and of different heights to support said containers in a tilted position by engagement with the large diameter portions of said containers with the bottom ends of said containers engaged against the adjacent side rail so that the neck ends are tilted upwardly, and a longitudinal track member of greater height than said pair of track members and positioned under but out of engagement with the neck portions of said containers and of sufficient height to prevent accidental tilting of said containers in a direction opposite to their normal tilted position.

2. A ramp for a rollable container having a surface of revolution comprising an elongated inclined track means on which the container rolls, supporting the container with its axis in inclined position whereby the container tends to gravitate longitudinally of its axis, and elongated guide means engaged by the end of the container as it rolls, located on the side of the track means toward which the container tends to gravitate for preventing axial movement of the container under said tendency to gravitate axially, said track means having track portions engaging a rolling container at circumferences thereof spaced axially a substantial distance and of substantially equal diameters, said container having a cylindrical portion of less diameter than said circumferences and safety guide means spaced from said reduced portion but engageable thereby to limit any accidental tilting action of said container as it rolls.

3. A ramp for a rollable container having a surface of revolution comprising an elongated inclined track means on which the container rolls, supporting the container with its axis in inclined position whereby the container tends to gavitate longitudinally of its axis, and elongated guide means engaged by the container as it rolls for preventing axial movement of the container under said tendency to gravitate axially, said track means having track portions engaging a rolling container at circumferences thereof spaced axially a substantial distance and of substantially equal diameters, said container having a cylindrical portion of less diameter than said circumferences and safety guide means spaced from said reduced portion but engageable thereby to limit any accidental tilting action of said container as it rolls.

I-l'ERSCI-IEL V. GIBSON. CORA MAY CASEY, Eecutrz' of the Estate of Elmer E. Casey, De-

ceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS 

